Mallorca Road Trip

Pier at Port de Pollença (Source: own photo)

Spain is a wonderful country. One of its greatest attractions is road trips. This time the destination was Mallorca. Here is a map showing the route (below).

A nice little 3-day itinerary (Source: own photo)

Baleària’s fast catamaran ferry takes you from Barcelona to Alcúdia in about five and a half hours, including a brief stop at Ciatudella in Menorca. You leave Barcelona in the afternoon and arrive in Port d'Alcúdia around 10 at night. The drive to Palma is motorway and takes you another hour. They eat late in Spain, so you can easily find a place to eat after you arrive, if you wish.

Palma at sunset (Source: own photo)

Next morning set out in a north-western direction through the town of Andratx before turning off the main road to the erstwhile fishing village of San Mel, now a tourist spot like so many others in Mallorca, but beautiful and tranquil. They do good coffee, like everywhere in Spain.

Mallorca's northern mountains (Source: Own photo)

From San Mel, make way into the mountains that rise bulwark-like along Mallorca’s northern perimeter, perhaps to deter imaginary northern invaders. This is a stunningly beautiful part of Mallorca, with endless opportunities to hike and bike. After taking in the views of the mountains and the Mediterranean at various miradores (viewpoints) along the way, descend to the villages of Valdemossa and Sóller, if you like quaint little towns. Conveniently located roughly halfway between east and west along the north coast, these towns are well-equipped to serve up lunch.

Mallorcan seafood delicacies (Source: Own photos)

Then head back up into the mountains culminating at Coll dels Reis from where the road serpentines dramatically down towards Sa Calobra, a tiny little port with a few restaurants and an opportunity to walk through tunnels to a rocky estuary called Torrent de Pareis.

Torrent de Pareis (Source: Own photo)

If you have not eaten at Valdemossa or Sóller, take turn right turn at Cala Tuent after leaving Sa Calobra and head to the signposted Restaurante Es Vergeret. Set aside at least a couple of hours to enjoy lunch in this fine establishment, which has beautiful views over the sea. The fish and shellfish are delicious and served on an outdoor terrace shaded by large trees.

Restaurante Es Vergeret in Cala Tuent (Source: own photo)

From Sa Calobra, it is another two hours of leisurely mountain driving as the sun slowly renders the reds and greens ever more vivid until you reach the lighthouse at Cap Formentor. You may want to go in the afternoon to avoid the countless cyclists that head out the narrow road to lighthouse in the morning.

Sailboat passing beneath Cap Formentor (Source: Own photo)

End the day in at one of the seafront hotels in Port de Pollença. All of them serve delicious Mallorcan red wine and the views over the sandy beach lining the entire bay at Pollença are simply magnificent as the bay is surrounded by mountains north and south, reminiscent of Waimanalo beach on Oahu or even Rio de Janeiro, albeit without Obama and samba, respectively. Pollença beach is just chill.

Beautiful Port de Pollença beach (Source: Own photo)

The next morning head south through Alcúdia to Porto Cristo. Essencial Restaurante in Porto Cristo is next to the boatyard and is a fine place to eat chippirones, pulpo, patatas bravas, and artichokes. They all wash down well with a chilled local white wine.

Drach caves (Source: Own photos)

While in Porto Cristo, visit the caves at Drach, which are impressively large and somehow even the large number of visitors does not detract from the enjoyment. Deep in the belly of the cave, they treat you to a classical concert performed by a small ensemble in rowing boats that glide around on a large underground lake.

You can't miss it (Source: Own photo)

When you get back to Palma, you can do worse than taking lodging at Hotel Catalonia Majorica. This hotel is up the hill on the western side of the Bay of Palma, just above the cruise ship docks. It is a bit of a walk from the centre, but worth it for the unbeatable views over the city. Enjoy Negronis on the terrace.

Palma de Mallorca (Source: Own photo)

Next morning drive back to the ferry at Alcúdia in an hour. The ferry leaves at 1300hrs and gets you back to Barcelona by dinner time. If you are lucky or good, you can spot dolphins or even a whale along the way!

The End